Word: lear
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Notable offerings include: OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL (Ashland): Merchant of Venice, Lear, Twelfth Night and Henry VI, Part...
STRATFORD FESTIVAL (Stratford, Ont.): Richard II and Lear...
PILGRIMAGE THEATER (Hollywood Hills): John Houseman's U.C.L.A. production of Lear, starring Morris Carnovsky...
Richard Monette, as Moliere, played his part with authority, and as the central character he set the necessary fast pace. His imitation of an overdone performance of Lear was very amusing; my only complaint is that he seemed to have too much energy. Perhaps this is the way Miss Fortson invisioned Moliere, but I wished Monette could have gotten more convincingly exasperated, or spoken more naturally. He sounded like he was acting, and this is a major fault, since in the play Moliere makes fun of unnatural actors...
Hamlin's direction, then, exploits most of the resources of the play. What is good is very, very good; what is bad is hardly worth mentioning. The world of Lear, moved by the spare, shaved verse of Shakespeare's maturest style, comes to life for most of an evening before leaving on the white robes of Lear's old sacrifices and new death. If at times the drama seems too difficult or the production too loud, we should remember that the best part of the play goes on in our minds, and, I suppose, our hearts...